Searching for Europe's Best Biking Roads
We strolled through the village next morning under grey skies which were soon spitting rain again. So we decided to take our time packing up and it cleared up enough to give us a dry ride down to Tossa de Mar. The 100 mile ride to Tossa was ideal after the exigencies of the previous day. Tossa is blessed with some stunning roads, and the GI 681 is the best. The coastal route especially north of the town might possibly be the best coastal road on the Med, rising hundreds of feet above the sea, and then plunging inland in dizzying series of switchbacks. But the GI 681 is the best, sweeping, perfectly surfaced smooth black tarmac that Brits can only dream about. A great way to arrive in the town.
'I've got a Ducati too' - Turns out Scooter Girl not only worked at our hotel, but had a Monster 900 in the Garage
We decided that we liked Tossa de Mar a lot. On the one hand it is a slightly brash and obviously touristy venue. But it was manageable off season. We easily found somewhere to stay with Balcony rooms overlooking the sea just under the ‘Vila Vela enciente’ – or the old town.
Chris takes a rest from the Diavel - looks like a cold seat this time
The old town is a treasure – literally now an official national treasure of Spain. It is the only intact example of a fully walled medieval coastal town in Spain. It was well worth spending the drizzly morning walking around the mediaeval village. As we sat and enjoyed a Tapas lunch normal Mediterranean weather was resumed and the sky assumed its normal azure. So despite this being a ‘day off’ we decided to ride the much reputed GI 682 up the coast north to the next town - Saint Feliu de Guixols.
It is an endless sequence of different radii bends without a single straight anywhere. Slower than the GI 681 without the wonderful sweepers, but with great views of the Med. Fantastic.